Questions: ‘UNSC should intervene to protect Indian minority’ | United Nations News

Many Hindu religious leaders and politicians gathered last month for a conference in Haridwar, a popular Hindu pilgrimage north of Uttarakhand, where several speakers called on people to prepare for war. the murder of a minority of Muslims.

“Even if only 100 of us were soldiers and killed two million of them, we would win,” Sadhvi Annapurna Maa of the Hindu Mahasabha (Grand Assembly of Hindus) told a group of people who were excited about the ceremony.

The conference video was broadcast on television, which provoked outrage and led to the arrest of people who publicly announced their execution. The following month, two speakers are arrested while others are on the move while police say they are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, experts say raised the alarm. At a briefing in the United States, Professor Gregory Stanton, founder of Genocide Watch, he warned in the clear statement that “genocide can take place in India”.

In August last year, Stanton, the creator of 10 Stages of Genocide, put India on stage 8, for example, human trafficking. The remaining two stages are destruction and rejection.

Juan E Mendez is the United Nations Special Envoy for Genocide Prevention (2004-2007), appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He also served as president and member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and as a UN Special Rapporteur on torture. Currently, he is a professor of human rights law at American University in Washington, DC.

Mendez has described what is happening in India, where there are 200 million Muslims, “dangerous” and “extremely disruptive”. Al Jazeera spoke to him about he clearly wants to kill the nation against minority groups and what countries, including the UN, can do to prevent this.

Al Jazeera: How do you see the Hindu leaders committing violence at the Haridwar rally?

John E Mendez: I see them with a lot of anxiety, especially when there has been decades of hating a few people. Violent calls are very dangerous and are part of the equation, and especially in this case, it can cause some people to call the phones too seriously, treat them, and irritate others.

For this reason, I look at the worst, which I find to have been made by non-governmental organizations, for example, people who claim to represent their race, who act as if they are protected by speech and under free speech, e.g. if it was just a thought.

After all, calling for the execution of millions of people under any law is a crime, a serious threat. And so, if there is no right response from the government, then I think that the international community should take action to reduce the impact of such kind of talk.

Al Jazeera: The United States Genocide Watch and its founder Gregory Stanton have issued a warning to India. Is India going to a place where the word “murder” can be used?

Mendez: I think Genocide Watch is a very respected organization and its views should be carefully considered. Stanton’s 10 Stages of Genocide is a highly respected way to anticipate and prevent homicide cases. The importance of this model is that it requires attention not only that there are vulnerable people – in this case, young Muslims in India – but also the actions that need to be taken to reduce the problem.

The Commission does its work not only foolishly using an example but also examining the realities. But let me say, as a former anti-murder activist, that I agree that such a genocide is a global problem.

Al Jazeera: India ratified the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in 1959 which prohibits genocide and enforces its ban. With so many Hindu people calling for an end to the violence and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being openly silent, is India violating what it did at the Terrorist Summit?

Mendez: The 1948 genocide conference was aimed at preventing genocide and urged the international community to have the power to do whatever is needed to prevent further unrest. The meeting did not explicitly state what was to be done but it was clear that the government was very important in preventing killings, especially those who agreed to the meeting.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the government of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to monitor the situation and to respond appropriately to such calls for violence against minors, especially those at risk, and to put in place measures to protect them. . One of them obviously is to investigate, torture and punish those who have committed crimes according to Indian law. Failure to do so is a violation of the Genocide Agreement.

Al Jazeera: The third clause of the Genocide Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women It includes those who have the responsibility to uphold the laws of the land, government officials, or civilians. Does the International Court of Justice (ICC) have any jurisdiction in India over the persecution of those who claim to kill anti-Muslim extremists?

Mendez: No, unfortunately, this is not the case because India did not sign and accept it Roma Statute. As a result, what is happening in India and the crimes committed by foreign Indians could fall under the control of the ICC if they do this in an ICC-controlled state or if the UN Security Council (UNSC) decides to send. case at ICC. For example in Sudan and Libya.

Al Jazeera: Do you think that the world, especially the US, UK, and European countries are paying little attention to the Hindu threat to minorities in India?

Mendez: Whatever they (Hindus) have done so far should not make anyone feel comfortable because, really, I think this is dangerous. In addition, some of Modi’s government’s policies are selective in favor of minority groups. These violations are rooted in racism, xenophobia and murder.

Countries around the world have a responsibility to protect people from such dangers. That is why the UN General Assembly in 2005 designated it as a UN Security Council. This does not bind everyone but demonstrates the responsibility of the international community and every member of the international community in taking action to protect vulnerable people.

Al Jazeera: Do you not agree that once the UN has repeatedly failed to stem the tide of genocide, it should enforce strict international laws, regulations, and prompt intervention?

Mendez: Yes, I think the UN has done a lot since 2004 when the Prevention of Genocide office was created. That is why I take it as a matter of self-criticism and criticism of the organization. The UN as an organization can do what its member nations, especially the most powerful nations, can do. Within those very strong frontiers obviously, I think we should consider the best ways the United Nations has done and criticize the shortcomings of them and build on them to do more. I hope it will start, but I must say that I am a little skeptical or rather hopeless because strong relationships around the world today are less compassionate and more murderous than they were in 2004 under Kofi Annan. .

Al Jazeera: Do you believe that the UN should consider making rules for the conduct of social networking sites that are said to have been used in assassinations as we have seen in Myanmar and Ethiopia, as well as in India?

Mendez: I think social networking sites should be given the same freedom of expression that is part of international human rights law, as well as the responsibility to take precautionary measures to prevent violence. Now if the UN is the best place to start online dating, I think (the UN) should take the lead at least. Instead, any law that is required must be made into a treaty and then the United States must accept it. It is important to make a compelling statement of this kind of agreement that preserves the right to free speech in all its forms and also sets limits on free speech when it comes to motivation. The Genocide Convention urges countries to prosecute and prosecute genocide cases. As a result, we have some international legal issues but we probably need more than that.

Al Jazeera: What do you think is the role of the international community and the UN especially in preventing further killings?

Mendez: I think there is a work that people all over the world should start soon. Global truth is so complex that some complaints come from international bodies such as the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council (UNSC), and the UN Human Rights Council. That must happen soon. If the Modi government’s response is not appropriate then the UNSC should intervene to protect the minority of India and the decision under Chapter 7 is a way to do so. It has the power to bind and can combine various elements, one being to refer a case to the ICC. I think it is important for member states of the UN Security Council to consider whether they should be instructed to take action to protect the few vulnerable groups in India.